Messi named FIFA Best men's player, Argentina's Scaloni earns coach trophy
Lionel Messi was named FIFA player of the year 2022 on Monday (February 27) as Argentina scooped all major men's awards after winning a vintage World Cup final last December.
The 35-year-old forward scored two goals in the final against France, with the South Americans emerging triumphant on penalties following a 3-3 draw after extra time in Qatar.
“It was crazy for me to be able to achieve my dream after so much fighting and going after it and insisting so much. In the end, it happened and it’s the most beautiful thing that has happened in my career. It is every player’s dream and very few are able to achieve it. And thanks to God, I was able to.” Messi told journalists after the awards ceremony in Paris.
Mbappe, also nominated for the highly anticipated award of the night, netted a hat-trick in the World Cup final but his achievement was overshadowed as Messi finally won the most coveted trophy in world football.
His compatriots Lionel Scaloni and Emiliano Martinez won the coach of the year and keeper of the year awards respectively, and their supporters even got the best fans prize.
“There is nothing more beautiful than to see your people, your country, happy. To see these people excited in the streets, enjoying themselves, is priceless. We played for them, the players played for them. We are eternally grateful. This triumph is for them. And last of all, my family and my wife, my kids who are here. And to my dad and my mom and my siblings who are in Pujato, my hometown. Thanks to them I am who I am. And also, to our country. Thank you very much.”,Scaloni said.
England were also rewarded for their victorious women's Euro 2022 campaign. Mary Earps was named keeper of the year and England's Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman received the accolade for best coach of a team who had four players in the year's World 11 - Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson and Keira Walsh.
Spain's Alexia Putellas, who won the Ballon d'Or last year, was named women's player of the year after inspiring Barcelona to a third consecutive national title in 2022.
Polish amputee Marcin Oleksy won the Puskas prize for best goal of the year for a spectacular acrobatic volley with Warta Poznan against Stal Rzeszow.
